Traditional policing has relied on random patrols and police responses to 911 calls. This approach means that police only respond to incidents rather than taking action to solve problems and achieve only random results. In addition, the public increasingly exaggerates the problems reported on 911 which results in ineffective policing. Moreover, the paramilitary organization of the police allows little discretion on problemsolving, because it fails to treat officers as intelligent, creative, and trustworthy people. Community policing represents an alternative approach in which police officers become problemsolvers and generalists who are familiar with the communities they serve. New York City initiated a form of community policing in 1984 through its Community Patrol Officer Program. It now plans to make community policing the dominant police style, to change the recruiting and training methods, and to empower the officers on patrol.